Crisis jeopardizes generation of Syrian children, UN says

The United Nations has warned against direful consequences of the foreign-sponsored militancy on the lives of children in Syria, saying the crisis will take its toll on a generation of kids.

Following a three-day visit to Syria, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict Leila Zerrougui said on Thursday that Syria “will have to face a generation of children who lost their childhood, have a lot of hate and are illiterate” when the crisis is over.

According to the UN envoy, the turmoil has ruined thousands of schools across Syria, and many of the remaining schools have been turned into shelters for the displaced.

Before her trip to Syria, Zerrougui also paid a visit to Syrian refugees in neighboring countries, including Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq.

The UN envoy said children account for about half of the five million Syrian refugees who have fled from violence.

In a similar report, UK-based Save the Children aid agency said on July 12 that some 22 percent of Syrian schools have been destroyed or badly damaged in over two years of unrest, jeopardizing the education of 2.5 million children.

According to the agency, school buildings were bombed, teachers came under violent attacks and children were recruited by armed groups operating in Syria.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to the United Nations, more than 90,000 people have died and millions of others displaced in the violence.